Chongqing, China — Former World No. 1 Wang Chuqin showcased his incredible talent Friday night, cruising into the quarterfinals of the WTT Champions event in Chongqing with a commanding 3-0 victory over France’s Alexis Lebrun.
Lebrun, who had recently made headlines with a semifinal run at last month’s Singapore Smash 2025, was no match for Wang’s determination to reclaim his top spot in the ITTF Table Tennis World Rankings. Having recently slipped to World No. 2 after an impressive 47-week reign, Wang was on a mission.
The match kicked off with both players displaying aggressive tactics. Wang quickly established a lead, but Lebrun fought back fiercely, leading to exhilarating rallies that had the crowd on the edge of their seats. As the first game reached its climax, Wang seized control to take it 11-8.
In the second game, Wang led 9-5 before a series of errors allowed Lebrun to narrow the gap to 9-8, prompting head coach Wang Hao to call a timeout. The tension soared as they reached 11-all, but Wang delivered a brilliant attack to secure the game 13-11, increasing his lead to 2-0.
The final game saw both players tied at 4-4, but Wang’s unwavering focus stifled Lebrun’s counterattacks. Dominating the remainder of the game, Wang sealed an 11-6 victory, completing the 3-0 sweep. He now faces Sweden’s World No. 7 Truls Moregard in the quarterfinals.
On the women’s side, Chen Xingtong overcame South Korea’s Shin Yu-bin in a thrilling encounter. The opening game was neck and neck, with ties at 9-9 and 10-10. Chen, seeded fourth, held her nerve to clinch the game 12-10 with a powerful offensive play.
The second game remained tight until 8-8, prompting Shin to call a timeout. However, Chen returned stronger, winning three consecutive points to take the game 11-8. She dominated the third game, racing to an 8-0 lead before closing it out 11-1. With this victory, Chen advances to the quarterfinals to face her compatriot Kuai Man.
As the competition heats up, all eyes are on Wang and Chen to see if they can continue their impressive runs and bring glory to their home crowd in Chongqing.
